Driver/Operator Terms Flashcards
Acceptance test
Pre-service test performed by the purchasing jurisdiction to in sure that a new fire apparatus performs to all bid specifications and NFPA 1901
Alley dock exercise
Tests the driver/operator’s ability to move the vehicle backward within a restricted area such as an alley dock, or fire station without hitting the walls and to bring the vehicle to a smooth stop close to the rear wall
Application rate
Min amount of finished foam that must be applied to a fire per min per square meter (square foot) in order to extinguish the fire
Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)
Commonly referred to as “A-Triple F”, this Class B foam is a synthetic compound consisting of hydrocarbon and fluorochemical surfactants, solvents (high boiling point) and water
ATC
Automatic Traction Control- helps improve traction on slippery roads, by reducing drive wheel over spin
Auxiliary cooling devices
Devices that function to control the temp of coolant in the apparatus engine during pumping operations
Auxiliary engine-driven pump
Fire department that are powered by gasoline or diesel engines, which are independent of the engine used to dive the apparatus
Average daily consumption
Average of the total amount of water used in water distribution system over a period of one year
Bank Down Method
Technique for applying firefighting foam where the foam stream trickles down onto the surface of the fuel
Bleeder valve
Valve on a gate intake that allows air from an incoming supply line to be bled off before allowing water into the fire pump
Boiling Point
Temp at which a liquid absorbs enough heat to change to a vapor
Breathing air compressors
Engine-driven appliances that take atmospheric air, purify it and compress it
CAFS
Compressed Air Foam System
Cascade systems-
Large breathing air cylinders that are connected together in banks
Cavitation
Condition where water is being discharged from a fire department pumper faster than its coming in
Cellar nozzle
Specialized nozzle used in basement fires, which is lowered through the floor or through some other suitable opening also known as distributors
Centrifugal pump
Pump that is classified as a non positive displacement pump that impairs velocity to the water and converts it to pressure within the pump it self
Change over
Moving the transfer valve on a fire pump from pressure to volume and visa versa
Chemical foam
Firefighter foam produced by the reaction of two chemicals mixed together. An absolute type of foam that has been widely replaced by mechanical foams
Chimney Nozzle
Specialized nozzle developed to attack chimney flue fires the nozzle delivers a very fine misty fog come which can put the fire out quickly with out causing damage to the flue liner due to sudden cooling
Cisterns
Underground water storage receptacles that can be used for firefighting operations and normally found in areas that are not serviced by a hydrant
Class A foam
Mechanical foam product containing specialty hydrocarbon surfactants to improve drain time and used to extinguish class A fires or used in exposure protection
Cold Zone
Area outside the warm zone where workers are not required to wear personal protective clothing and is generally considered safe. Also the location of the command post, staging area and triage. Also known as the support zone, green zone
Collapse Zone
Should be equal to 1 1/2 the height of the building driver/operator manual quotes at least height of the building
Combination system
Means of moving water that uses a combination of the direct pumping system and gravity system
Condensed Q formula
Formula that was developed for fire ground operations in which friction loss can be determined for 3, 4, and 5 inches hose
Confined space turn around
Driving exercise that tests the driver/operator’s ability to turn the vehicle around 180 degrees within a confined space
Constant flow nozzle
Nozzle that is designed to flow a specific amount of water at a specific nozzle discharge pressure on a small pattern
Constant Pressure relay methods
Relay pumping method that establishes the max flow available from a particular relay setup by using a constant pressure in the system
Contamination Zone
Area between the hot zone and clod zone which is considered safe for workers to enter briefly without special protective clothing also known as the warm zone, limited access zone and yellow zone
Deck gun
Master stream appliance mounted on the fire apparatus deck which is permanently connected to the fire pump via pipe also called turret pipe or deck pipe
Deflection
As it relates to fog streams- a turning or state of being turned; a turning from a straight line or given course; a bending; a deviation
Deluge set
Master stream appliance consisting of a short length of large diameter hose with a large nozzle or large play pipe supported at the discharge end by tripod
Department of Transportation DOT
Federal agency that establishes the basic requirements for licensing drivers